Equinties - Sweet Saturday

Gm Equinauts

The Shergar Cup takes centre stage at Ascot today. It was an idea developed in ‘99 to create a Ryder Cup style competition for horse racing.

It certainly isn’t that and, in fear of seemingly jumping on the racing purists bandwagon of ‘racing isn’t a team sport’, we’ve honestly never been too enthused about as a punting prospect to be honest.

For example, we (the writers of this publication) own a horse who could have run at this meeting but we decided not to simply because we wouldn’t have a bloody clue who would be riding… and whether they’d even be able to speak English!

We much prefer the controversial Racing League as a new concept to mix racing up a bit.

Let’s dive in.

HEADLINE ROUNDUP

TRANSFER SEASON

We did a piece recently about a few horses changing hands to go overseas, and we joked that this was occurring because it’s currently the summer transfer window in football. We try.

We were probably bang on though as it is the season further parts of the world to explore our now tried and tested.

And the trading continues…

The first deal comes from Hong Kong for Ballydoyle’s SERIOUS CONTENDER, seen below when finishing second in the Irish Derby.

Aidan O’Brien and the Lads letting go of one to Hong Kong or Australia is almost a given with every flat season now. After all, AGE OF KINGS went to Australia in 2023 after winning the Jersey Stakes, WATERVILLE (now called MR WATERVILLE, the 2022 Irish Cesarewitch winner) also went down under, and CAPULET (now called ROMANTIC THOR) went to Hong Kong in 2024.

SERIOUS CONTENDER is the classic horse that Coolmore let go. Based on his recent form from the Irish Derby and King George V Stakes (behind MERCHANT), he looks like a nice purchase, but he could still flunk, considering he’s not one of the ‘top’ Ballydoyle horses. Still, the more you look at that LAMBOURN and MERCHANT form, he could be a star should he take to Hong Kong.

As for the other horse to mention, William Haggas now has a new owner in the yard, and it’s the same owners as the recent Group 1 Queen Anne Stakes winner DOCKLANDS. That’s because O T I Racing have acquired SAM HAWKENS, and it’s quite funny how much this horse has improved recently.

He started off his career with Richard Hannon, but his previous owner, Westerberg, let him go. Hurworth Bloodstock then picked him up for the remainder of 2024, and William Haggas took over training duties. Two defeats in the second half of 2024 saw him change ownership to Willmo Bloodstock, and since the start of 2025, he has improved drastically.

He picked up his first win of the year at Newcastle in May before winning at Hamilton in June and Goodwood in August. His latest success in the Summer Handicap at Goodwood was quite smart, as he sat prominently, and he found plenty off the bridle even when AERONAUTIC built up a nice lead.

Even though O T I Racing have now acquired him, he’s staying with Shaggas, but he now has a big Australian target, which is the Group 3 St Leger Stakes on Everest Day in October.

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